A professional online store in Quebec costs between $3,995 and $15,000 in 2026. What sets the number is mostly the platform (Shopify, WooCommerce, or a custom build), how many products you sell, and the features you actually need. On top of that, there are recurring fees that most quotes never mention.
This guide breaks down what an online store really costs in Quebec: the starting price, what pushes it up, and the monthly fees to plan for once your store is live.
What drives the price of an online store
Two online stores can differ in price by a factor of four, usually for specific reasons. Here is what weighs most in a quote.
- ◆The number of products. Ten products are quick to set up. Three hundred products with variants, photos, and descriptions is several days of structured work.
- ◆The platform. Shopify, WooCommerce, and custom builds differ both in starting cost and in long-term fees.
- ◆The design. A theme adapted to your brand costs less than an interface drawn from scratch to maximize conversions.
- ◆The integrations. Payments, tax calculation by province, shipping rates, inventory, accounting, email marketing. Each connection adds setup and testing time.
- ◆The migration. Moving a catalogue, customer accounts, or order history from an old store is work to price from the start.
What an online store costs by platform
Your platform choice sets both the build cost and what you pay every month afterward. Here are the three realistic options for a Quebec SMB.
| Platform | Build cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| ●Shopify | $3,995 – $8,000 | Fast launch, SMBs, simple to run |
| WooCommerce | $4,500 – $9,000 | Full control, already on WordPress |
| Custom | $10,000 and up | High volume, unique business logic |
Quebec market pricing, 2026. Varies with catalogue size, design, and integrations.
Shopify hosts your store, handles security and updates, and charges a monthly subscription. It is the simplest option to operate for a merchant who wants to sell without managing the technical side. Most of our online store projects start on Shopify for that reason.
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin. The software is free, you keep full control of your code and data, and you are not tied to any platform subscription. In exchange, you manage hosting, security, and a little more maintenance. It is a good fit if you are already on WordPress or your catalogue has unusual rules.
A custom build suits high-volume merchants or businesses with logic that standard platforms do not cover. The upfront cost is higher, and the freedom is complete.
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The build price is only part of the story. An online store also costs money every month, and that is usually where the surprises come from. Here is what to plan for.
| Item | Cost | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify plan | $68 – $195/month | Basic to Grow, ~25% less billed yearly |
| Transaction fees | ~2.4% – 2.9% + $0.30/sale | Lower on higher-tier plans |
| Apps | $0 – $50/month each | Reviews, email, inventory, shipping |
| Hosting (WooCommerce) | $20 – $50/month | Included with Shopify |
| Domain name | $15 – $50/year | Your web address |
| Maintenance | $100 – $300/month | Optional, recommended for selling |
Typical fees for a Quebec SMB in 2026. A small store often runs $100 to $150/month before maintenance.
The most underestimated line is transaction fees. At about 2.9% per sale on the entry plan, a store doing $10,000 in monthly revenue pays around $290 in card processing, less on higher-tier plans. One detail on Shopify: if you use an outside gateway instead of Shopify Payments, the platform adds an extra percentage. Always check this point before you settle on a payment solution.
WooCommerce flips the equation. There is no platform subscription. Instead, you pay for hosting, some premium extensions, and a bit more maintenance. Over a year, the two options often meet in the middle. The right choice depends on your technical comfort and your sales volume.
Online store vs business website: where the price gap comes from
An online store takes far more work than a business website, and that is what explains the price gap. A business website runs $2,500 to $5,000, as our website pricing guide lays out.
A store handles secure payments, a product catalogue, tax calculation by province, shipping rates, stock management, customer accounts, returns, and PCI compliance. Each piece needs setup and testing. It is also why product page SEO matters so much: without organic traffic, even the best-looking store stays invisible.
What you should actually budget
Beyond the ranges, here is how to think about your budget based on where you are.
- ◆Launch or small catalogue. Plan on $3,995 to $6,000 for the build, plus about $100/month in running costs. Enough to sell properly and test your market.
- ◆Growth. Between $6,000 and $10,000 for a wider catalogue, accounting integrations, or a design tuned for conversion.
- ◆High volume or unique needs. From $10,000 for a custom build, once standard platforms become a constraint.
The most useful advice: budget the recurring fees from day one, not just the build. A store that sells needs maintenance, apps, and sometimes monthly SEO to stay profitable. If you are still unsure how big the project should be, a digital audit at $495 gives you a clear action plan and budget before you invest.
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Get a free quote in 60 seconds ↗Frequently asked questions
01Shopify or WooCommerce, which is cheaper?
At build time they are close: $3,995 to $9,000 for a well-made store either way. The real difference shows up in the recurring fees. Shopify charges a monthly plan that includes hosting and security. WooCommerce is free as software, and you pay separately for hosting, some premium extensions, and a bit more maintenance. For most Quebec SMBs, Shopify works out cheaper to run in the first year.
02What are the monthly fees for a Shopify store?
Plan on the Shopify subscription ($68 to $195/month by tier, Basic to Grow, ~25% less billed yearly), transaction fees of roughly 2.4% to 2.9% + $0.30 per sale for card processing, and a few apps (reviews, email, inventory) at $0 to $50/month each. A small store often runs $100 to $150/month before maintenance.
03How much does a store with a large catalogue cost?
The more products, variants, and rules you have (quantity pricing, stock by warehouse, tax by province), the longer setup takes. A store with several hundred products usually lands between $8,000 and $15,000. Migrating an existing catalogue, if the data is clean, is part of the work to price from the start.
04Can you start small and scale later?
Yes, and it is the approach I usually recommend. You launch a solid store with a starter catalogue, secure payments, and product SEO in place, then add advanced features once sales justify them. It keeps you from paying for functionality you may never use.
05How long does it take to launch an online store?
At Web Nordique, an online store ships in 6 to 10 weeks depending on catalogue size and the number of integrations. The timeline depends mostly on how quickly you supply your products, photos, and copy. The more content is ready, the sooner you go live.
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